Crowd members hold signs outside Newlin Hall prior to the vice presidential debate at Centre College in Danville, Ky., Oct. 11, 2012. The debate between Vice President Joe Biden and Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.), the Republican vice presidential candidate, will be split into nine, 10-minute segments, with Martha Raddatz, the moderator, choosing the topics for each. (Max Whittaker/The New York Times) Photo: MAX WHTTAKER, STR / NYTNS